| Category | Caverns |
| Continent | Brucrumus |
| Region | Menortamon |
| Focus | Dark Nature Energy |
| Map | Velkyn |
The Lightless Cyst is a realm of profound darkness where the ethereal radiance of ghostly lichens only functions when the area's master is absent on matters of business. This master is the sentient magical staff known as Eldacil's Vine. When this item is present, buried within the pulsating mass of a colossal ooze, it maintains the area in a pitch-black void that only those with exceptional vision can navigate. It does so because the hill-sized mound of viscous matter it inhabits was once the physical form of the demon lord Juiblex. One of the favored tactics of this sickly ooze demon was to lurk in an impenetrable shroud of darkness, reveling in the panic of those unable to perceive it.
Late in the Demon Spawn War (89 GE - 269 GE), the Covenant general Melrith cornered the demon lord Juiblex in a long, unnamed cavern. In the ensuing battle, hundreds of twig blights charged towards Juiblex, sacrificing themselves in the assault. Concealed among the advancing soldiers, Melrith wielded a staff designed to manipulate the Energy Composition of others. Melrith, who had distanced herself from Covenant operations for the past decade due to the growing darkness within, courageously faced Juiblex alone. Fortunately, she was shielded well enough to withstand most of the blows. Melrith succeeded in driving Eldacil's Vine into Juiblex. Ravenous, the staff devoured the demon's energies, but like four times before in the Demon Spawn War, the body was slain, yet the mind escaped.
Melrith was astonished by the staff's immense energy absorption. She shared a telepathic bond with the weapon, but could not access it within the demon lord's foul mass. The caustic fluids of Juiblex kept her and all else at bay. Forced to depart the Mortal Systems during the Angelic Departure (270 GE - 274 GE), Melrith left Eldacil's Vine, the 7th Incarnation of Juiblex, in a still-living blob. Years later, Melrith discovered that the staff's sentience, Eldacil, sustained the body by refusing to take lives and feeding the mindless mass. Tragically, the immense energy the staff held corrupted it during this process. The once-benevolent staff now used one of Juiblex's pseudo-pods, transforming its facet into an empty slot and initiating the release of its energy into the surrounding area.
In the following age, the Lith-Crillion Era, the staff and mound became inseparable. Utilizing the pilfered energies of Juiblex, nearly all were transformed into Dark Nature Energy, and the staff then set to work propagating an expansive root network. Within the subterranean recesses of Velkyn, the fey and flora had their innate energies supplanted by the antithetical force, granting them a voracious appetite to consume their polar opposites.
Near the center of the Lightless Cyst stands a vine-shrouded mound that continues to pulsate. This undulating hill is Juiblex's 7th Incarnation. It and the staff are accountable for transforming Velkyn's northeastern domains into a realm of Dark Nature.
Even though Juiblex has no association with its previous form, oozes, slime, and puddings are drawn to this location.
The Lightless Cyst serves as a focal point for the dark essence of nature.
Focus Effect
| Power | Description |
|---|---|
| Dark Nature | all druidic spells using dark nature energy are 25% stronger and have a have a +4 to their difficulty checks. |